Long distance bib shorts

Which shorts should you opt for when setting out on long rides? This topic rears its head in online groups every spring. The commenters below the line invariably recommend various manufacturers and there is also always a lot of debate about the superiority of one padding over the others.

But what exactly makes us comfortable in some bibs (slang for “bib shorts”), while in other ones we end up swearing like a trooper after 100 km? Is it the padding, the cut, or some other nifty ideas?

Chamois

The ideal padding for long rides should be high-density (to maintain springiness after many hours of riding), be about 12-15 mm thick, ensure ventilation, and be pleasant to the touch.

The most popular manufacturers of pads are: Dr Pad, Dolomiti, La Fonte and Elastic Interface. I have tested padding from all four manufacturers on my own body (well, one particular part of the body to be exact).

Elastic won. Why? Well, its high density provided comparable cushioning to Dolomiti and La Fonte, but it was much more breathable, thus minimising the risk of irritation.

What’s more, Elastic sells women’s equivalents of its top men’s pads. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with other manufacturers.

Here is a top tip for ladies: when choosing shorts, make sure that they have the same lining sewn into them as in the men’s versions. Sometimes producers use cheaper padding in women’s shorts.

For example, the padding we use is Elastic Interface Road Performance Force – the best model of long-distance pads.